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Although the founding of Germantown on October 6, 1683 was to provide the date for German-American Day, historical research has shown that nearly all of the first thirteen Quaker and Mennonite families were in fact Dutch rather than Germans.[2][3] The town was nevertheless named Germantown, as the direct vicinity of the settlement was inhabited by fifty-four German families who had accompanied Johan Printz to the Swedish settlement on the Delaware several years earlier and had resettled themselves.[4][5] These families subsequently founded Germantown, Pennsylvania, which, due to greater numbers, would subsequently be dominated by Germans within a generation.[6][7] In 1688, the inhabitants organized the first petition in the English colonies to abolish slavery. Originally known under the rubric of "German Day", the holiday was celebrated for the first time in Philadelphia in 1883, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the founding; and similar celebrations developed later in other parts of the country.[8] The custom died out during World War I as a result of the anti-German sentiment that prevailed at the time,[7] but the holiday was revived in 1983 in joint resolution 108. The bill was sponsored by Senator Richard G. Lugar (R–IN) on April 8, 1987.[9]

In 1983, President Ronald Reaganproclaimed October 6 as German-American Day to celebrate and honor the 300th anniversary of German immigration and culture to the United States.[10] On August 6, 1987, Congress approved S.J. Resolution 108, designating October 6, 1987, as German-American Day. It became Pub.L.100–104, 101 Stat.721 when President Reagan signed it on August 18. A proclamation (#5719) to this effect was issued October 2, 1987, by President Reagan in a formal ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, at which time the President called on Americans to observe the Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Presidents since then have continued to make proclamations to observe German-American Day.[11][12]